Drier



D. s, BAKER Augc7 l2, wm

' DRIER Filed March l, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F17 24J-.f Il

f7 INVENTOR. Qa/md Q/km.

l M AT ORNE Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

DAVID S. BAKER, OF GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL EVAPORA- TOR CORPORATION, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

DRIER.

Application iled March 1, 1922. Serial No. 540,196.

To all 107mm it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID S. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenwich, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driers, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to driers for evaporating moisture from various materials, such as paints and paint materials, chemicals and other substances.

An object of the invention is to provide a compact drier occupying small floor space and adapted to dry materials rapidly and thoroughly with a minimum consumption of heat and power.v

A further object of the invention is to facilitate introducing the material to be dried into the drier and removing it therefrom.

To attain these objects, I provide a long flow passage of relatively small cross-section and a blower to force air or other drying medium through the passage at high linear velocity. The passage contains a pre-heater for initial heating of the drying medium and re-heaters and material supports arranged alternately. In order to make the drier compact and to avoid loss of heat by radiation, I form the flow passage in a chamber, on top of which is located a blower adapted to force the drying medium into an inlet opening in or near the top of the chamber. The chamber contains dow-directing members which form in it the continuous flow passage with a straight portion leading downwardly from the inlet opening and containing a prelieater, and a tortuous portion leading upwardly from the lower end of th straight portion to a discharge opening located at or near the top of the chamber. In order to y provide for a re-circulation of all or a part some of these flow-directing members are fixed in the chamber while some of them are mounted on the carrier. Means are provided for making a tight connection between the fixed and movable' flow-directing members ,when the carrier is in the chamber.

Other objects and advantages of the invention are hereinafter pointed out in connection with a detailed description of a drier embodying the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the drier taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 and the line 1-1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is a top View of the drier with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on a larger scale, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4 and showing a portion of the end wall of the truck broken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line L1-1 of Fig. 3, upon a still larger scale; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the drier, on a smaller scale than Figs 1 and 2.

The drier illustrated comprises a chamber 10 having an inlet opening 11 in its top near one side and an outlet opening 12 in its top near the other side. On the top of the chamber 10 is mounted a blower 13 connected by a short conduit 14 to the entrance opening 11 of tle chamber. The side walls 15,` the back wall 16, the front wall 17 and the top 18 of the chamber 10 are made double so as to provide a dead air space to prevent conduction of heat from the chamber. The front wall 17 contains a doorway 21 which may be closed by a door 19 supported by hinges 20.-

Horizontal tracks 25 extend into the chamber 10 through the doorway 21. Upon these tracks is a truck 26 which may be rolled into and out of the chamber through the doorway. On the platform 27 of the truck 26 is mounted a framework which includes corner posts 28 and a series of inwardly turned angle irons 29 extending across opposite ends of the truck and adapted to support trays 30 in which the material to be dried is supthe chamber the material trays 30 may be f removed or inserted from the side of the truck, each traybeing slid along a pair of the angle irons 29 extending across opposite ends of the truck.

The truck carries spaced horizontal flowdirecting members which i'n the form illustrated comprise the platform 27, together with the flanges 31 extending from the sides of the platform, the material tray 301, together with the flanges 31 extending from the sides of this tray, the material tray 302, together with the flanges 31 extending from the sides of this tray, and the material trays 303, 30, together with the flanges extending from the sides of these trays. All the flanges 31 are horizontal and project outwardly from the sides of the truck. They are secured to the corner posts 28 by brackets 32. The chamber 10 contains {10W-directing means fixed therein. These include a vertical partition 40 extending downwardly from the inner edge of the inlet opening 11 and dividing the chamber 10 into a preheater chamber and a drying chamber, and horizontal partitions 41, 42, 43, 41, 42, 43 in the drylng chamber together with the movable anges 44, 44 ywhich are hinged to the edges of these partitions. It should be noted that the horizontal partitions 41, 42, 43, 41, 42, 43 lie in the same planes as the horizontal flow-directing members 0n the 'truck 26.

When in operative position the movable flanges 44, 44 rest upon and overlap the anges 31 of the truck, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and/make a tight connectionbetween the horizontal flow-directing partitions which are xed in the chamber and the flow-directing members which are mounted on the truck, when the truck is in the chamber. It should be understood that by the expression tight connection, as used in this specification and the claims which follow, it is not meant that an air-tight connection is formed, but merely that the connection is sufficiently tight toprevent any material portion of a current of drying medium flowing along one side of the flow-directing members to pass through to the other side of the members.

When the truck is in position in the chamber the vertical partition 40 and the horizontal How-directing members form in the chamber a long continuous flow passage extending from the inlet opening 11 to the outlet opening 12. The flow assage includes a straight portion 7 0 lea ing downwardly from theinletopening 11 and a tortuous portion 71 leading upwardly fromI the lower end of the straight portion to `the outlet opening 12. In the straight portion 70 is placed a pre-heater 72 which may conveniently consist of steam coils. In the bends of the tortuous portion 71 are placed the re-heaters 73 which serve to re-heat the drying medium passing through the flow channel between each of its contacts with the material upon the trays 30. It should be noted that in order to form the tortuous portion 71 of the flow passage the horizontal partitions 42 and 42 are spaced in staggered relation to each other. The partitions 43 and 43 are desirable in order to prevent the current of drying medium from changing its direction before it reaches the re-heaters 73.

Owing to the relatively small cross-section of the flow passa e the drying medium may be forced throug it with high linear velocity by means of a small blower 13. As a result the material on the trays 30 is dried with great rapidity, with a small consumption of energy. Notwithstanding the length of the flow passage 70, 71 the drier is compact, and the blower 13 being located on the top of the chamber 10 does not increase the licor space occupied by the drier.

In cases where the drying medium discharged through the outlet 12 has not reached a 'predetermined oint of saturation, it is desirable to utilize the heat contained in the drying medium at this point by re-circulating all or a part of the drying medium. For this purpose a short condult 75 1s provided connecting the outlet opening with the intake side of the blower 13. When this conduit is used it will be noted that the conduits 14 and 75 form with the passages 70, 71 a closed circuit throu h which the drying medium is forced by t e blower 13. The dampers 76, 77, 78 provide means for regulating the proportion of the drying medium which is re-circulated. It should be noted that while the drying medium may thus be re-circulated through a long circuit of small cross-section, the greater proportion of this circuit is compactly contalned in a chamber provided with insulated walls so that only a small portion of the heat of the drying medium is lost during the re-circulation. As a result, the drying medium may be retained at a temperature high enough for satisfactory drying with small consumption of steam, or other heating medium.

The arrangement of the truck in the tortuous portion of the iow passage makes it possible to introduce the material trays into the tortuous passage in such a manner that the drying medium flows over grou s of them in series, while at the same time a l the material trays may be moved into and out of the drier simultaneously. As the movement of the truck is parallel to the` flow-directing members on the truck and in the chamber which form the tortuous passage 71 a tight connection of the flow-directing' members may be obtained by means of the flanges 44, 44 regardless of the exact longilLZO partitions 42, 42 and the flow-Vdirecting members of the truck, the drier will operatev fairly satisfactorily if those of the connect-y ing flanges 44, 44 which cooperate JWith the short partitions 43, 43 are omitted.

1n order to prevent injury to the connecting flanges when the truck is moved,means are provided for raising the movable flanges V44, 44 out of contact with the flanges 31 These means will next he de-l of the truck. scribed. o

Each of the movable Hanges 44 is rigidly secured at its inner edge to a hinge rod 50 `mounted in bearings 51 provided along the edge of one of the horizontal partitions 42942 or 43 (Fig. 4). Upon the front endi of each of the hinge rods 50 is fixed an arm ,52 con.

taining a slot 53 through which passes a vertical rod 54 Which is slidably mounted in bearin s 55 secured to the inside of the front Wall 1 of the chamber 10. 4'll`he rod 54 is' provided with a series of collars 56 each adapted to come into/contact With the lower side of one of the arms 52l When the arm is raised, and a series of collars 57 each adapted to come into contact with the upper side of one of the arms 52l when the rod is pushed down to the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

A vertical movement may be imparted to the.

rod 56 by means of an arm 60 mounted on a shaft 61 lextending throughthe front Wall 17, and adapted to e age collars 59 fixed on the rod 54. The sha t 61 may be turned-by means of an operating bar 62 mounted on the shaft ,outside the front Wall 17 The mechanism for operating the movf able flanges 44 is similar to that described in connection with thelanges 44 iand comprises a vertical rod 54 actuated by an 'arm 60 mounted upon a "shaft 61 extending throughthe front wall 17 at the oppositeI side of the doorway 21 from the shaft 61.y The shaft 61 is turned by means of an oper'- ating bar 62 mounted on theA shaft outside the front wall 17. As illustrated in Fig. 5,

f the operating bar 62 may serve as a bolt to positions they retain the door 19 closed. When the truck 26 is to be moved intothe chamber 10, the door 19 is open and the, operating bars 62, 62 occupy the positions illustrated in dotted lines in'Fig. 5.1nwhich are retained by the catches 4, 74. A phantom view of/the bars in this position 1s shown in Fig. 3. When the operating bars are in this position the 'rods 54, 54 are forced down by the arms 60, 60

vraising the flanges 44, 44 tothe position illustrated in Fig. 3.

After the truck 26 has been moved into the chamber 10 and the door 19 haslben closed,

the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig.

5 to its horizontal position indicated in full lines.' Its end is placed inside the catch 63 and is supported by the end of the operating bar-'62. `When the operating bar 62 is thus 'raised the rod 54 is raised by the arm 60 causing each of the flanges 44 to fall upon the corresponding flange 31. t

It should be noted that when the operating bars 62, 62 are positioned so as to bring the movable anges into their operative position in contact with the flanges 31 of the truck, the operating bars are located so as to obstruct opening of the door 19 and the removal of the truck 26 fromL the chamber,

10.. Consequently there is no danger of moving the truck when the movable flanges are resting on the fixed flanges and thus injuring either set of flanges.

When the drying operation has been completed and the truck is to be removed from thechamber the operatin 'bars 62, 62 are -moved back to the positions indicated rin dotted ylines in Fig. 5 so that the door 19 may 'be opened. This movement of the operating bars raises the movable flanges 44, 44

'niy

to the position shown in Fig. 3 so that they are :out of contact with the flanges 31 on .the truck. The truck may then be rolled out of the chamber on the tracks 25 Without danger of injuring the flanges.

' I t should be noted that the collars 56, 57 on ,the rods 54, 54 provide for positive movement of the arms'52 and the flanges in 4both directions, but that the collars are spaced so as to allow some lost motion. Thus when the rods ,are raised to their highest positions the collars 56, 57 are out ,of contact with the arms 52, as indicatedv in 4dotted lines in Fi 3, so that each of the movable flanges is ree to seat itself separate- 1y upon the corresponding flange of the l truck. .As a result whenthe movable anges nection is securedY even though the truck 'is slightly displaced laterally. This is a matter of importance as slight inaccuracies* in the laying `of the tracks2'5 or dirt 'on tlie tracks j frequently causes lateral displacement of the pper portion of the truck.

It is believed that the use of the drier 4which has been described and the advantages obtained by the use of lthe invention will be apparent'to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description.

While I have fund it most desirable to combine the various features of .the invention in a compact drier such as that described, it should be understood-that many of the novel features of the. embodiment described may sometimes advantageously be used independently of each other and that when so used they nevertheless constitute a part of my invention; i,

I claim as my invention:

` l. In a drier, the combination of means .providing a continuous closed ilow circuit comprising a straight portion and a tortuous portion located at one side of the straight portion and` having its ends connected to the ends of thestraight portion, a blower in said circuit adapted to cause a circulation of drying medium therethrough, a heater in the stra1ght portion of the pas.- sage, and heaters and material supports arranged alternately in thetortuous portion of the* circuit. x `2. In a drier, the combination of means providing a-continuous flow circuit comprising a straight. descending portion, a tortuous ascending portion located at the side of said descending portion and a portion connecting the upper ends of said straight and tortuous portions; a'blower in said connecting p0rtion adapted to1 cause a circulation of drying medium through the flow circuit, a preheater in said straight portion, and re-heatersv and material supports arranged alternately in said tortuous.` portion.

3. In a drier, -the combination with a chamber having inlet and outlet openings at its top, of flow-directing members in the clramber forming in it a continuous ow passage, comprising a straight portion extending vdownwardly from said inlet opening, and a tortuous portion extending upward from the lower end of said straight portion to said outlet opening, a blower on the top of the chamber arranged to force ardrying medium into the chamber through said inlet opening, a pre-heater in said downwardly extending portion of the flow-` passage, and re-heaters and material supportspalternately arranged in the tortuous rportion of saidvpas'sage.

4. In a drier, the combination with a drying chamber of two sets of horizontalipartitions inthe chamber arranged` at opposite sides of the chamber in staggered relation to each other and providing an open space between their inner edges and a plurality of removable horizontal material supports `located in the open space between the two series "of partitions, certain lof said supports being. located in the same planes as said partitions and formin continuations thereof so as to cooperate t erewith to form a conlt)inuous tortuous flow passage in the chamer. 5. In a drier, the combination with a drying chamber of two sets of horizontal How-directing partitions in the chamberarranged at opposite sides of the chamber in staggered relation to each other and providing an open space between their inner edges` a'material carrier movable into and out of said open space in a direction parallel to said inner edges, horizontal flow-directing members on the carrier having their outer edges parallel to the direction of movement l of the carrier, and. means for making a tight coniection between the How-directing members in the chamber and those of the carrier so that they cooperate to form in the chamber a continuous tortuous iow passage.

6. In a drier, the combination with a drying chamber of a plurality of flow-directing partitions in the chamber arranged at opposite `sides thereof so as to leave an open space between them and having their inner edges parallel, a material carrier movable into and out of the open s ace of the chamber in a direction paral el to said inner edges, {low-directing members on the carrier having their outer edges parallelto the direction of movement of the carrier, and

means for makin a tight connectionybetween the inner edges of the How-directing partitions in the chamber and the outer edges of the flow-.directing members on the carrier when the carrier is in the chamber.

7. In a drier, the combination with a dry-I ing chamber of a plurality of parallel flowdirecting partitions in thechamber arranged along opposite sides thereof so as to leave an open space between their inner edges, a material carrier movable into and out of said open space in a direction parallel to said dow-directing partitions, How-directing ,members on the carrier, each of which `is How-directing partitions in the chamber arranged along opposite sides thereof so as to leave an open space between their inner edges, a material carrier movable into and out of said open space in a horizontal direction, horizontal {low-directing members on the carrier, each lying in the same plane as one of said flow-directing partitions inthe chamber, and means for making a tight coning chamber of horizontal flow-directing partitions in the chamber, a material carrier movable into. and out of the chamber in a v horizontal direction, horizontal flow-directing members on the carrier, and means for making a tight connection between the flowdirecting members in the chamber and those on the carrier and comprising vertically movable anges, each adaptedt rest upon the edge portion of one of said flow-direct- '15 ing members when the carrier is in the chamber.

10. In a drier, the combination with a -drying schamber of a plurality of parallel partitions in said chamber, a carrier movable into and out of the chamber in a direction parallelto said partitions, a plurality of How-directing members on the carrier parallel to its direction of movement, a plurality or' movable Hanges, each extending from one of said partitions and adapted to rest'upon the edge portion .of one of the How-directing members of the carrier when the carrier is in' the chamber, a common "operati-ng means for said flanges adapted to raise them out of contact with the flowdirecting members of the carrier and to drop them into contact therewith, and a connection between said common operating member and each of said flanges arranged to 35 provide suiicient lost motion to permit each flange to seat itself independently upon one of the How-directing members of the-carrier.

11. In va ldrier', the combination with a drying chamber of a flow-directing partition therein, a carrier movable into and out of said drying chamber, a flow-directing member on said carrier, movabwie means` adapted when in operative position to make a tight connection between said partition vandsaid members, and an o eratingy member connected to said mova le connecting means and so positioned that it obstructs movement of the carrier out of the chamber when said connecting means is in operative position,

12. In a dryin chamber containing a doorway, of a iiowirectin partition in the chamber, a carrier mova le into and out of lthe chamber through the doorway, a How-directing member on the carrier, movable means adapted when in operative position to make a tight connection between said partition and said member, and an operating bar connected to -said Lmevable connecting means drier, the combination with a parallel to the direction of movement of the carrier, a flow-directing member on the carrier'having an edge parallel to its direction of movement, movable means adapted, when in operative position, to make a tight connection between said partition\and said member, an operating bar connected to said movable connecting means and located outside the chamber and so positioned that it prevents theppening of said door when said movable means is in operative position and permits openin of said door when the connecting means 1s in inoperative position.

- 14., In a drier, the combination 'with a drying chamber of two sets of parallel flowdirectlng members arranged along opposite sides of the chamber so as to leave an open space between their inner edges, a material carrier movable into and out of' said open space in al direction parallel to said flowdireeting members, flow-directing members on the carrier parallel to its direction of 15. In la drier, ,the combination with a dryin chamber of two. sets of horizontal ilowirecting members in the chamber arranged at o posite sides of the chamber in staggered're ation to each other and providing an open space` between their inner edges, a truck movable into and out of said open space in a directionparallel to said inner edges, horizontal flow-directing members on the carrier having outer edges parallel to its direction of movement and each lying in the saine plane as oneof the liowdirecting members in the chamber, all-ofv said flow-directing members being so located that when the truck is in the chamber the inner edge of each How-directing member in the chamber overlaps the outer ed e of one of the flow-directing means ont e carrier, making a tight connection therewith, so that `the flowg-directihg members in the chamber (and those of the carrier cooperate to form in the chamber a continuous tortuous How passage.

16. In 'a drier, the combination with a drying chamber of How-directing members therein having parallel edges, a truck movable into and out of the chamber in a direction parallel to said edges, a frame on said truck, spaced How-directing members on the lll) truck, each of said members includingl a longitudinal side ange projecting outwardly from the frame and adapted to overlap the edge of one of the flow-directing members in the chamber when the truck is in the chamber. l

17 A material carrier for use with a drier, comprising av truck having a frame, and

`jecting outwardly yfrom the frame 18. A material carrieror use inV connecltion with a drier, comprising a truck'hav- 19. A material carrier for use in connec- V tion with a drier, comprising a truck having a frame formed to support a pluralityV of material trays, and horizontal side flanges l set my hand.

DAVID S. BAKER. 

